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5 credits
WRITING PROFICIENCY
RESTRICTED TO ENGLISH ED MAJORS ONLY DURING PHASE I
Prereq: Eng 440 and 441 or permission of instructor
Winter 2008 CRN: 11495 - TR 04:00-05:50 pm; HU 107
View syllabus from Winter
Term 2008 (in PDF format)
CONTENT: This course focuses on ways children learn to write by examining the various stages in the
process of writing. We’ll take a close look at how writers develop over time and plan teaching strategies to
promote personal and public writing. In addition, we will examine current issues in the teaching of writing,
investigate the connections between reading, literature, and writing, and explore ways to implement written
publication and celebrations of writing in the language arts curriculum. And, we’ll also discover what it means
to teach writing through our own work as writers.
ASSIGNMENTS: Come to class with an interest and desire to learn how writing develops, as well as how
writing can be taught. There will be a range of reading and writing assignments: you’ll maintain a writer’s
notebook, begin to develop a publishing center/ bookmaking notebook, design a writing focus lesson on writing
traits using children’s literature as inspiration, collaborate on a professional book review, and participate in a
culminating writing event. Since this course is listed as writing intensive, come prepared to write often, to
revise for clarity and accuracy by taking into account purpose and audience, and to develop a piece into a
presentational format.
Course Texts:
Core Texts/Resources (required):
- What a Writer Needs [Ralph Fletcher]
- Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide [Ralph Fletcher and JoAnn Portalupi]
- Dear Parent: A Handbook for Parents of 6-Trait Writing Students [Vicki Spandel]
- Selected articles -- $5.00 copying fee
"Expert Team" Texts (select one):
- About the Authors: Writing Workshop with our Youngest Writers [L. Cleaveland & K.W.Ray]
- Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School [G. Heard]
- In the Company of Children [J. Hindley]
- Nonfiction Matters: Reading, Writing, and Research in Grades 3-8 [S. Harvey]
- The Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques that Work [G. Heard]
EVALUATION: Active participation and regular attendance, remaining current on readings, completion of
writing notebook entries and projects, participation in all components of our Writing-A-Fair.
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